Homelessness Expert to Speak at Portland Business Alliance Event

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

GoLocalPDX Business Team

Lloyd S. Pendelton; Courtesy of the Portland Business Alliance

Lloyd S. Pendleton, a nationally recognized leader on programs addressing homelessness, with speak at a breakfast event sponsored by the Portland Business Alliance on November 18.

Pendleton is the former director of Utah’s Homeless Task Force. He created Utah’s pioneering “Housing First” program, which moves chronically homeless individuals into stable, permanent housing. The program utilizes permanent housing as the first choice over other outreach services such as health care substance abuse programs or employment programs.

Housing First is the starting point for Utah’s 10-year plan to end chronic homelessness. Beginning in 2005, the plan has successfully reduced the chronic homeless count by 91 percent as of this year.

Pendleton will speak on the City of Portland’s own homelessness crisis. As GoLocal reported, the Portland City Council declared a state of emergency regarding the housing problem in the city in September, months after the Business Alliance launched PDXcandobetter.com, an online petition urging Mayor Charlie Hales and the City Council to prioritize the homelessness issue. More than 3,300 people signed the petition.

Sandra McDonough, President and CEO of the Portland Business Alliance, said Pendleton will be able to shine a light on some of the problems that plague Portland.

“We still get calls every day from people, not just businesses, who are deeply concerned about what they see every day on the streets, in parks, and in other public spaces. This has been at a crisis level for several months now. It is happening throughout the entire Portland metro region and it impacts everyone,” said Sandra McDonough, president and CEO at the Portland Business Alliance. “We think it makes sense to look at what some other communities have done to address their homeless issues. Mr. Pendleton’s experiences in Salt Lake City may inspire ideas in Portland, and we are excited to host him here.”

Pendleton will speak at the Portland Business Alliance Forum Breakfast, which takes place on November 18 from 7:30 AM to 8:30 AM at the Sentinel Hotel. The event is open to the public. For more information, or to register, visit the Business Alliance’s events page.

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